At the turn of the last century, Cuba's independent digital press emerged as a counterpoint to the state's longstanding monopoly on information.

The official media had long published news stories transmitted by the government through the state apparatus, curtailing the freedom of the press, of opinion and even creativity itself.

The alternative media which emerged in Cuba after the economic crisis of the 1990s demonstrated that simply publishing stories produced by those in positions of power went against the norms expected of journalists.

But back then, almost no-one on the island realised that independent journalism was also plagued by prejudice, stereotype and gender bias affecting men and - especially - women.

The new, independent media realised that it was necessary to conduct research and commit to a process of sensitive, ethical editing to produce stories that followed rigorous and universal standards of veracity, transparency, data verification and balance.